SparkNotes: The Hobbit: Themes, Motifs & Symbols Themes, Motifs & Symbols Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work. Bilbo’s Heroism The Hobbit’s main theme is Bilbo’s development into a hero, which more broadly represents the development of a common person into a hero. At the beginning of the story, Bilbo is timid, comfortable, and complacent in his secure little hole at Bag End. When Gandalf talks him into embarking on the quest with Thorin’s dwarves, Bilbo becomes so frightened that he faints. But as the novel progresses, Bilbo prevails in the face of danger and adversity, justifying Gandalf’s early claim that there is more to the little hobbit than meets the eye. Bilbo possesses hidden reserves of inner strength that even Bilbo himself cannot perceive when he firsts sets out on the quest. Confronting the trolls, escaping with Gollum’s ring, slaying the spider, rescuing the dwarves in Mirkwood, and speaking face-to-face with the great dragon Smaug all provide Bilbo with opportunities to test his resolve. As he builds confidence and resourcefulness, Bilbo emerges as a true hero.

Because Tolkien acknowledged that the idea of hobbits was rooted in his experiences with rural Englishmen of his own time, Bilbo’s development might allegorically represent the heroism of England in World War I or the inner, latent heroism common to everyone. But given Tolkien’s stated distaste for allegory—his main motivation for writing was storytelling, not the exploration of a literary theme—it is questionable whether Bilbo’s story should be taken to refer to anyone except Bilbo himself. Race, Lineage, and Character The differences among Tolkien’s imaginary races are a major focus of the novel, particularly in its second half. Elves, dwarves, trolls, and goblins differ from one another physically, psychologically, and morally. These inherent racial differences drastically limit the possibility of individual choice but make moral distinctions easy to maintain. All goblins are evil, for example, and all elves are good. The notion of races having different moral qualities is reflected in the novel’s idea of nature. The good races are portrayed as being in harmony with nature, while the evil races are depicted as being at odds with it—hence the eagles’ decision to help the elves against the goblins.

Some critics have suggested that the different races in The Hobbit were meant to represent different European nationalities, but Tolkien’s distaste for allegory makes this seem highly unlikely. Family lineage is another important factor that shapes identity in The Hobbit. Throughout Middle-Earth, one’s prospects, character, and social position are linked closely to family heritage. Bilbo’s conflicting feelings of fear and courage, for instance, are portrayed as a struggle between his Baggins side and his Took side, referring respectively to his father’s and his mother’s families. Thorin is prompted to seek the treasure under the mountain because it is his birthright, passed down from his grandfather, Thror. Bard’s heroism is in part attributed to his having descended from the lords of Dale. Whereas race is primarily a determinant of one’s moral standing, family has more to do with one’s specific personality: Bilbo is good because he is a hobbit, but he is adventurous because he is a Took. Motifs Motifs are recurring structures, contrasts, and literary devices that can help to develop and inform the text’s major themes. Contrasting Worldviews Tolkien was a scholar of ancient languages at Oxford.

A major source of inspiration for The Hobbit’s plot was the body of ancient epic literature that Tolkien studied, particularly Scandinavian and Anglo-Saxon epics like Beowulf. Elements of the story originate from literature, including the form of the heroic quest, the dragon’s treasure hoard, the importance of named swords, the elves’ mysterious magic, and the grim focus on birthright and family lineage. The Hobbit revisits many of these ancient conventions with a playful, comic tone that is thoroughly modern. Bilbo himself, with his common sense, love of peace, and warmhearted self-doubt, is in many ways a rural Englishman of the 1930s transplanted into a medieval adventure. Tolkien’s exploration of this contrast between the world in which he lived and the worlds he studied is the source of a large part of the book’s comedy. This contrast also has some thematic importance—Thorin’s last words to Bilbo indicate that despite the grandeur of epic heroism, the simple modern values of the hobbits perhaps have a more important place in the world.

The Nature and Geography of Middle-Earth Since The Hobbit takes place in a world of the author’s own creation—complete with its own history, language, geography, and mythology—much of the narrative is devoted to incidental descriptions of the places, people, and things that Bilbo encounters. As a result, Middle-Earth emerges as a finely detailed reality with a convincing visual presence and its own unique atmosphere. Taking the reader through this world is one of the primary considerations of the novel, and a great part of Tolkien’s literary ingenuity is devoted to making Middle-Earth seem as real as possible. For many readers, experiencing Middle-Earth as a self-contained whole is probably the most striking aspect of reading The Hobbit. Symbols Symbols are objects, characters, figures, and colors used to represent abstract ideas or concepts. Named Swords Throughout epic literature, swords with names and lineages are the marks of great heroes. One of the most famous examples is King Arthur’s sword, Excalibur. The swords named Orcrist and Glamdring that Thorin and Gandalf win from the trolls symbolize their heroic deeds.

Bilbo’s decision to name his short sword Sting after killing the spider is a major turning point in his quest—it symbolizes his bravery and initiative, and presages his transformation into a hero. Hobbits Though the thematic importance of hobbits is highly debatable, Tolkien himself acknowledged that the nature of hobbits was based on the rural, middle-class English people among whom he lived. This symbol enables Tolkien to explore the contrast between ancient and modern worldviews as the modern-minded Bilbo travels the ancient world of Middle-Earth. THE HOBBIT (Graphic Novel), by J.R.R. Tolkien THE HOBBIT (Graphic Novel), by J.R.R. Tolkien View More AN ILLUSTRATED EDITION OF THE FANTASY CLASSIC WITH SIX NEW PAGES OF ILLUSTRATIONS! First published in the United States more than seventy-five years ago, J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit is one of the best-loved books of all time. Now a blockbuster film by Peter Jackson, Academy Award–winning director of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Hobbit was also adapted into a fully painted graphic novel, a classic in its own right, presented here in a new expanded edition.

When Thorin Oakenshield and his band of dwarves embark upon a dangerous quest to reclaim stolen treasure from the evil dragon Smaug, Gandalf the wizard suggests an unlikely accomplice: Bilbo Baggins, a quiet and contented hobbit. Along the way, the company faces trolls, goblins, giant spiders, and worse. But in the end it is Bilbo alone who must face the most dreaded dragon in all Middle-earth—and a destiny that waits in the dark caverns beneath the Misty Mountains, where a twisted creature known as Gollum jealously guards a precious magic ring. Copyright: © All Rights Reserved Character List Character List Bookmark this page Manage My Reading List Bilbo Baggins Hobbit; the protagonist of the story. Bilbo is invited by Gandalf to join him and the dwarves on their journey to the Lonely Mountain, home of Smaug the dragon, to reclaim the treasure that belongs to the dwarves. Often torn between his love of the comforts of home and his desire for adventure, he contributes to the successful accomplishment of the group's purpose and discovers within himself unsuspected resources of courage and ingenuity.

Gandalf Wizard; teacher, mentor, and protector of Bilbo; directs the dwarves' expedition to reclaim their treasure from Smaug. Thorin The leader of the dwarves; grandson of Thror, descendent of Thrain the Old who was King under the Mountain when Smaug seized the treasure. The treasure and the throne are his birthright, and Gandalf gives him a map and a key to the Lonely Mountain left to him by Thror. He dies fighting in the Battle of Five Armies. Balin, Dwalin, Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, Dori, Nori, Ori, Fili, Kili, Oin, Gloin The other twelve dwarves who go with Thorin, Gandalf, and Bilbo on the long journey. Bert, Tom, and William Trolls from whom Bilbo takes the key to a cave from which he and the dwarves take gold and the swords they use in battle with the Goblins and in the Battle of Five Armies.

The trolls are crude and violent and capture the dwarves in order to roast and eat them; the dwarves are rescued by Gandalf, who confuses the trolls into staying out past dawn and turning into stone. Elrond An elf; the proprietor of the Last Homely House at the Edge of Wild and is a leader of the elves. He translates the runes on the swords taken from the trolls to reveal that they were originally used in the Goblin-wars and translates the moon-letters on Thorin's map to reveal the importance of Durin's Day. Goblins Ugly, wicked creatures who live in a cave in the Misty Mountains. They capture Bilbo and the dwarves and eat their ponies. A number of them, including their leader the Great Goblin, are slain by Gandalf and Thorin using the swords taken from the trolls. Gollum The slimy creature who guards the mouth of the cave. He is completely self-centered and talks to himself. He owns the ring of invisibility that Bilbo steals. Wargs Wild wolves from whom Bilbo and the dwarves hide in trees after they escape from the Goblins.

Gandalf sets the Wargs on fire and chases them away, but they return, joined by the Goblins, and try to set fire to the forest. Bilbo and the dwarves are rescued from the trees by eagles. Lord of the Eagles The chief eagle who rescues Bilbo, Gandalf, and the dwarves from the Wargs and flies them to his nest perched on the mountain. The eagles also fly over during the Battle of the Five Armies. Beorn Also called a skin-changer because of his power to change into a bear, which allows him to attack Goblins and Wargs. He is hospitable to Gandalf, Bilbo, and the dwarves on their way to the Lonely Mountain and gives them ponies and provisions for their journey. He appears at the Battle of Five Armies and fights the Goblins. Gandalf and Bilbo spend Yule-tide with him on their way back to the hobbit-lands. Elvenking King of the elves who imprisons Thorin and the other dwarves in his dungeon, from which they are rescued by Bilbo who hides the dwarves in barrels and floats them down a river to Lake-town (also called Esgaroth).

Elvenking appears at the Battle of Five Armies. Master of Lake-town The ruler of Esgaroth, the town of men also called Lake-town, to which Bilbo and the dwarves escape from the palace of the Elvenking. The Master's power is challenged by Thorin, and the Master is ultimately replaced by Bard when the Master is corrupted by a share in the dwarves' treasure. Smaug The dragon who lives underground in the Lonely Mountain, where he keeps watch over the treasure hoard that rightfully belongs to Thorin. Bard The archer from Lake-town who kills Smaug the dragon and eventually becomes Master of Lake-town. Dain Cousin of Thorin; with an army of dwarves, he comes to aid Thorin's band in the Battle of Five Armies. Master of Laketown | The One Wiki to Rule Them All | Fandom powered by Wikia Edit The Master of Lake-town The Master of Laketown ruled from 2920 to 2941 of the Third Age and he would have been approximately thirty years old when he began leadership.

This would make him fifty years old at the time of the Battle of the Five Armies and The Quest of Erebor , as these events both occurred in the year 2941. The Master's rule in Laketown was rather amicable, and therefore under his dominion the Men of the Long Lake traded peaceably with the Elves of Mirkwood , creating a steady trade that was kept until 2941, when Thorin and his friends came to wrest dominion of the Lonely Mountain and its riches from Smaug , who had arrived 120 years before the Master's rule, in the year TA 2770 . When the Dwarves arrived, the Master of Laketown greeted them generously, but only to keep public spirits up. [1] After the destruction of Laketown and the slaying of the dragon by Bard , the townspeople denounced the Master as a coward and called for Bard's ascension as King. The Master, who was an adroit politician, shifted blame for Laketown's destruction to Thorin and the Dwarves, who had roused the dragon in the first place. This succeeded in turning the townspeople's ire towards the Dwarves.

Bard took the lead in rebuilding the remains of the town and gathering supplies for the coming winter, but was careful to act in the Master's name, so as not to usurp the latter's authority. [2] After the Battle of Five Armies , Bard became King of Dale , but gave a generous portion of his share of the Lonely Mountain's treasure (received from Dain II Ironfoot ) to the Master, for the re-building of Laketown. Unfortunately, the Master succumbed to greed and fled Laketown with most of the gold , and later died of starvation in the wastes, after being deserted by his companions. [3] He is therefore described as weak, because he is easily overcome by the lust of the treasure Smaug held, and by the dragon-spell. Personality Edit Taking great pride in his power and position, the Master cares only for his own prosperity and gain. His pompous attire manifests as an outward expression of his greed, displaying his wealth for all to see. Harboring a powerful sense of his own self-importance, the Master dresses his guards in regalia every bit as pretentious as his own. Despite his democratically held position, the Master ruthlessly suppresses all challenges to his authority.

In line with the book, the Master is shown to have a good head for business, a talent expressed in the films through the toll gates he has constructed, and the taxes he has levied. He also displays a keen political mind befitting someone of his position, recognizing the arrival of the Dwarves as a way of bolstering his own failing popularity. Portrayal in adaptations Edit The Master In Peter Jackson's adaptation of The Hobbit , the Master is played by English actor Stephen Fry . In the films, he takes on a more directly antagonistic role, presented as a greedy and corrupt public official, whose primary concern rests with retaining his own power and position. He shows little interest in Laketown’s destitute state, instead turning his attention to the acquisition of tolls and taxes. In TA 2941 , when the growing civil unrest that concerned his leadership, and threatened for an election, the Master used a network of informants throughout the city to spy on Bard, as he was jealous of the bargeman and was suspicious that he was responsible for the growing threat to his authority.

When Thorin and Company are arrested for stealing weapons from the Laketown armory, the Master is quick to label them as enemies of the state. However, the revelation of Thorin’s royal linage and his promise of a share in the riches of the Lonely Mountain , persuades the Master to welcome the Dwarves, seeing the situation as a chance not only to restore his ailing popularity, but also as a way of increasing his own wealth. Providing the Dwarves with weapons and equipment the Master bids them farewell, trusting to their gratitude upon the successful completion of their quest. Master of Lake-town and Alfrid are escaping from the flame of Smaug Later, as Bard attempts to reach the windlance ballista atop the Laketown Town Hall, guards sent by the Master arrest him under fabricated charges. Bard manages to escape, only to be knocked unconscious by the Master himself, who subsequently has him incarcerated. His every whim is attended to by his personal assistant and councilor Alfrid Lickspittle , who performs tasks that the Master deems beneath himself, such as emptying his chamber pot.

After when Bard was arrested under fabricated charges and when the dragon Smaug attacked Lake-town, the Master tried to escape on a boat with all of the town's gold as an act of cowardice along with his servant Alfrid, the captain of the guards Braga , and a few guards, but when Smaug was killed by the Black Arrow shot by Bard, his boat, himself, and everyone on it were crushed to death under the weight of the dragon's dead body. LEGO Edit LEGO Master Of Laketown Master of Lake-town appeared in one w:c:lego:LEGO set, 79013 Lake-town Chase. He also appeared in LEGO The Hobbit: The Video Game as a unlockable character. He can be found on a bridge of Lake-town . 2 Master of Lake-town The Hobbit Characters - eNotes.com The Hobbit Characters Bilbo Baggins, the hobbit who becomes an unlikely hero. Gandalf, a powerful wizard who enlists Bilbo's help. Smaug, a greedy dragon who has driven the dwarves out of Misty Mountain. Gollum, a hideous monster inhabiting an underground lake, bent to the will of the One Ring.

Thorn Oakenshield, the last dwarf King of the Mountain. Elrond, the elf Lord of Rivendell. Download Study Guide Start Free Trial Start your free trial with eNotes to access more than 30,000 study guides. Get help with any book. link Link Surely one reason for the success of The Hobbit is the skill with which Tolkien blends a mixture of elements long familiar from fairy tale, legend, and folklore with absolutely original elements. The characters are a good example of this technique: Thorin Oakenshield and his companions, as dwarves, are almost familiar figures; the characteristics that they exhibit—suspicion, a love of gems, skill at mining and delving—are the characteristics long associated with dwarves. Consider the dragon who guards the Lonely Mountain: Although Smaug is an especially acquisitive and cunning dragon, such are traits characteristic of the dragons of legend. The dwarves and the dragon—even a wizard such as Gandalf—place the reader in a familiar context and arouse in the reader’s mind the expectations consistent with stories of heroic fantasy. To this context, Tolkien adds original characters, ones who will not only fulfill but also exceed the reader’s expectations.

Chief among these are the hobbits, Tolkien’s chief contribution to mythology and probably his most enduring one. When Stanley Unwin was considering The Hobbit for publication, he took the normal step of sending the manuscript to a reader for evaluation; the reader, however, was unusual: It was his ten-year-old son, Rayner. That the hobbits—Bilbo in particular— caught Rayner’s imagination is no surprise: Bilbo’s small stature and relative youth make him a hero likable to children. The hobbits as a race enjoy comfort, eating, and drinking, and the pleasures of a secure home—all pleasures accessible to children. Their vices, too, tend to be those of children, chiefly greed and quarrelsomeness. Yet they act in adult affairs and in their actions can well represent something more: Tolkien later claimed that the limited imagination and great courage of the hobbits were traits of the ordinary Englishman, traits which he had the chance to observe under the stress of World War I. Whether children or Tommies, the hobbits have a deeper dimension: They are capable of moral choices, and one of the most successful characters of the story is one who later proves to be of central importance, Gollum.

When he appears, Gollum is so repellent a character that he seems at first to be another species entirely from the wholesome hobbits. As the reader hears his story, however, it becomes quite clear that Gollum’s vice, his overwhelming lust for his precious ring, is only a fault of the ordinary hobbit carried to the extreme. One may see Bilbo and Gollum as a contrast: Both, perhaps, show a bit more daring than the ordinary hobbit, and both find themselves subjected to temptations outside the ordinary. Both are similar in this, too, that although their adventures in The Hobbit form a satisfying story with a beginning, a middle, and an end, that story will be seen from a more profound perspective in The Lord of the Rings (1954-1955). The depth of Gollum’s lust for the ring and the height of Bilbo’s heroism in renouncing it will be appreciated in their full dimensions only later when, with the maturity of years, the children who read The Hobbit will turn to its adult sequel. link Link Bilbo Baggins Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit, the protagonist.

Fifty years old when the story begins, Bilbo is respectable, unadventurous, and predictable. Forced into an unwanted role as burglar with Thorin’s expedition, Bilbo encounters a series of monsters and learns with growing self-reliance to use his luck and his wits, becoming the leader of the expedition. By discovering Smaug’s weak spot, Bilbo helps slay the dragon, though no one remembers his contribution. One year after setting out, Bilbo returns from his adventure a changed hobbit: No longer respectably predictable, he is a hero, with a true sense of his small but vital place in a wide world. Gandalf Gandalf, a wizard, almost a comic character, whose powers remain largely unrevealed. Gandalf chooses Bilbo to accompany the dwarves and travels with them in the early stages of their journey, rescuing them from the trolls, helping the dwarves escape the goblin tunnels, and introducing them to Elrond and Beorn. Gandalf leaves the company in Bilbo’s care before they enter Mirkwood, thus letting the hobbit grow into his role as self-reliant hero.

The wizard reappears at the end of the quest, helping in the Battle of the Five Armies, and later accompanies Bilbo back to Hobbiton. Thorin Oakenshield Thorin Oakenshield, a dwarf, rightful heir to his grandfather Thror, last King under the Mountain, whose kingdom Smaug destroyed. Thorin is both proud and brave. He proposed the daring quest, but he is also stubborn and prone to greed: He refuses to share the dragon treasure and becomes estranged from Bilbo. In the Battle of the Five Armies, Thorin makes a valiant last stand with his kinfolk, but the great dwarf falls, badly wounded. Lifted from the fray by Beorn, Thorin dies after praising Bilbo and is buried with honor. Smaug Smaug, a greedy, strong dragon. Long ago, Smaug destroyed the town of Dale and the kingdom under the Lonely Mountain. He has accumulated a mountain of treasure, which he uses for a bed. Smaug seems invincible, but Bilbo discovers a soft spot on his left breast; this information enables Bard to slay Smaug during the dragon’s attack on Esgaroth.

Beorn Beorn, a skin-changer, sometimes a huge man and sometimes a great bear. Beorn, though suspicious, shelters Thorin and company after their escape from the goblins and Wargs. After confirming their story, Beorn offers the dwarves any help within his power. He appears as a bear in the Battle of the Five Armies and routs the goblins just when defeat seems certain. Bard Bard, a man of Esgaroth, grim of voice and face, the slayer of Smaug. Bard is descended from Girion, last Lord of Dale. After Smaug’s death, Bard helps the Elvenking besiege Thorin but joins with elves and dwarves in the Battle of the Five Armies. Later, Bard rebuilds a merry and prosperous Dale. The old thrush The old thrush, a bird whose forebears were friendly to the dwarves and to the men of Dale. The old thrush helps slay Smaug, carrying news of the dragon’s weak spot to Bard. Elrond Elrond, the lord of Rivendell, where Thorin and company rest before crossing the Misty Mountains.

Elrond is half-elven and is noble, wise, venerable, and kind. He finds the moon-letters on Thorin’s map, revealing information crucial to Thorin’s quest. Gollum Gollum, a small, dark monster (named Sméagol and identified as a ruined hobbit in other books). Gollum is fond of fish and goblin meat, and his willingness to try hobbit gives Bilbo his first real trial. In the goblin tunnels where Gollum lives, Bilbo finds a ring, long possessed by Gollum, that makes its wearer invisible. Gollum engages Bilbo in a riddle contest, which the hobbit, by luck and not quite fairly, wins. Learning of the ring’s power from Gollum’s mutterings, Bilbo follows the monster to the goblins’ back door. Choosing fairness over prudence, he does not kill Gollum, but leaps over him to freedom. The Elvenking The Elvenking, lord of the wood-elves. He imprisons the dwarves in his dungeon, whence they escape with Bilbo’s help. Thorin afterward bears a grudge against the Elvenking.

After Smaug’s death, the Elvenking, who has a weakness for treasure, marches with an army toward the Lonely Mountain, turning aside to help the people of ruined Esgaroth. With Bard, he besieges Thorin but joins dwarves and men in the Battle of the Five Armies. Dain son of Nain Dain son of Nain, Thorin’s cousin. Dain leads an army of dwarves from the Iron Hills to aid Thorin against the Elvenking and Bard but joins elves and men in the Battle of the Five Armies. Dain, a generous dwarf, becomes King under the Mountain after Thorin’s death. The Hobbit Characters | GradeSaver Buy Study Guide Bilbo Baggins is the main character of the story. He is a hobbit who prefers domesticity to adventure, but he soon finds himself caught up in the escapades of Gandalf, the wizard, and a group of dwarves. Bilbo is hardly the raw material of a hero, but as the story progresses he develops into a clever and brave hero. Throughout the novel, he longs for his home but he is able to perform his duties as a member of the group.

Finding the ring that makes him invisible is certainly the greatest tactical advantage that he gains in the story. Gandalf is a wizard who appears in The Hobbit intermittently, though he has a more sustained presence in the first novel of the Lord of The Rings Trilogy. Gandalf is a friend of Bilbo's mother, Belladonna Took, and he contrives the gathering of Bilbo and the dwarves that initiates the adventure. He has plenty of wisdom, magical skills (usually fireworks) and useful contacts with individuals like Beorn and the Lord of the Eagles. Smaug is the major villain of the story. He is a dragon that has terrorized several towns and, within his mountain, he guards a massive horde of treasure. Part of this treasure belongs to the dwarves and so they intend to reclaim it. Smaug dies in battle against the villagers of Esgaroth, when a warrior named Bard shoots an arrow through his unshielded breast. Thorin Oakenshield is the leader of the dwarves that accompany Bilbo to the cave of Smaug. Like most dwarves, he is focused on wealth, political ascendancy and historical lineage.

He carries an old sword and he is heir to the throne established in Smaug's mountain. Unfortunately, Thorin's negative tendencies reveal themselves in his power-hungry maneuvers at the novel's end. Balin and Dwalin are among the dwarves that accompany Bilbo; they are brothers. Balin is obsessed with the historic glory of the dwarves and his tomb, in the caves of Moria, appears in the first book of the LOTR trilogy. Bard is a valiant warrior from the town of Esgaroth. As an excellent archer, he slays and kills the dragon Smaug. Beorn is half-bear and half-man. He is a fearsome protector who provides lodging and food for the dwarves and helps defend them against the wolves. Belladonna Took (deceased) is the mother of Bilbo Baggins. She does not appear in the story but she is known for being courageous and adventurous. Bert, Tom and William are three trolls who capture the dwarves, but they are bewitched by Gandalf and the sunlight petrifies them into dead stone.

Bifur, Bofur, and Bombur are among the dwarves on the journey and they are often mentioned together. Bombur stands out as immensely fat and heavy. He falls into enchanted water and suffers a narcoleptic delusion for a good part of the novel. Dain Smaug - Tolkien Gateway Smaug Treasure of Thrór , including the Arkenstone [1] Appeared Smaug (birth unknown – Third Age 2941 ) was the greatest fire-breathing dragon of the Third Age . Details of his origin are unknown, but in T.A. 2770 he attacked the Lonely Mountain and the town of Dale . He claimed the treasure of the mountain for himself and forced Thrór , King under the Mountain , and his people into exile. Thorin 's quest - with the help of his burglar Bilbo Baggins - to reclaim the treasure ended in success when Smaug was slain by Bard in T.A. 2941 .

[3] [1] [2] [6] Contents John Howe - Smaug When Bilbo Baggins first encounters Smaug he can hear his snoring - "like the noise of a large pot galloping in the fire, mixed with the rumble of a gigantic tom-cat purring" - but is most of all struck by the reddish glow and heat that Smaug gives off, both of which travel up the passage-way so Smaug is felt long before he is seen. His flames are green and scarlet. [5] There he lay, a vast red-golden dragon, fast asleep; thrumming came from his jaws and nostrils, and wisps of smoke, but his fires were low in slumber. Beneath him, under all his limbs and his huge coiled tail, and about him on all sides stretching away across the unseen floors, lay countless piles of precious things, gold wrought and unwrought, gems and jewels, and silver red-stained in the ruddy light.

Smaug lay, with wings folded like an immeasurable bat, turned partly on one side, so that the hobbit could see his underparts and his long pale belly crusted with gems and fragments of gold from his long lying on his costly bed. Ted Nasmith - Scouring the Mountain Smaug was perhaps one of the dragons that infested the Grey Mountains . [7] Hearing about the wealth of the Dwarves of Erebor , Smaug first appeared in the history of Middle-earth in T.A. 2770 flying south "like a hurricane coming from the North" and attacked the wealthy Dwarven kingdom of the Lonely Mountain and its adjacent lands: he first landed upon the mountain before going down the slopes and setting the woods on fire. When the dwarves came running out of the front gate Smaug killed them all before turning his attention to the men of Dale , also killing most of their warriors including Girion , Lord of Dale (but his wife and child safely fled to Lake-town [3] ). Returning to the mountain, he crawled into the front gate and left no dwarf he found alive.

Only Thrór , King under the Mountain , and his son Thráin II managed to escape by using the secret side-door (Thrór later gave the key to the secret door and a map of the Lonely Mountain to Thráin). Smaug claimed the treasure (which included the Arkenstone and a mithril shirt ) for himself and laid there upon a bed of gold, for the next two centuries only occasionally leaving the mountain to carry away people (especially maidens) and continue the destruction of Dale. [6] [1] The area surrounding the mountain became known as the Desolation of the Dragon as "there was neither bush nor tree, and only broken and blackened stumps to speak of ones long vanished". [8] [ edit ] The Quest for Erebor Henning Janssen - Magnificient Guardian In T.A. 2850 , Gandalf , whilst spying on the Necromancer in Dol Guldur , found a Dwarf imprisoned; near death, the dwarf gave Gandalf a key and a map. Unbeknownst to Gandalf at the time this dwarf was Thráin , King of Durin's Folk , who had been captured by the Necromancer in T.A. 2845 .

Having discovered that the Necromancer was indeed Sauron , Gandalf was very concerned that Sauron could use Smaug to a devastating effect. It is for this reason that Gandalf sought a plan to neutralise the threat of Smaug and limit the potential power of Sauron in the north of Middle-earth. [9] By chance on 15 March 2941 , Gandalf met Thorin Oakenshield in Bree (although another source states that they met when Thorin overtook but started to talk to Gandalf on the road [9] ). They discussed their desire to destroy Smaug and retake the Lonely Mountain; they later met in Thorin's Halls in the Blue Mountains to develop a plan. Gandalf wanted Thorin to take the hobbit Bilbo Baggins as a burglar on their adventure to retake Erebor; this took considerable persuasion. [2] [1] Later in T.A. 2941 , at the home of Bilbo Baggins , Gandalf presented Thorin with the map and key, and accompanied them on part of their quest . [6] The party reached the mountain later that year on Durin's Day .

[8] They sent Bilbo in through the secret door to carry out his duty as their burglar; as Smaug lay dreaming of greed and violence, Bilbo stole a heavy two-handed cup from the dragon's vast hoard of treasure (which he used as a bed) and went back to the dwarves. Meanwhile Smaug had an uneasy dream: a warrior, altogether insignificant in size but provided with a bitter sword and great courage, figured most unpleasantly —Narrator [5] [note 1] Upon awaking Smaug felt the draught from the tunnel which led to the secret door (from which he had previously heard untoward knocking). Already suspicious Smaug noticed that the cup was missing. This enraged Smaug beyond measure, causing him to leave his chamber and scour the mountainside for the intruder; remembering hearing strange noises from the passageway he failed to find the entrance, only eating their ponies. [5] Remembering a saying of his father 's, "every worm has a weak spot", Bilbo offered to return to the dragon's lair - the Dwarves ardently accepted and, putting on the ring , off he went.

Bilbo believed that the dragon was fast asleep and that his presence would remain unknown to the dragon, however, Smaug was pretending to be asleep. He then spoke to Bilbo: Well thief! I smell you and I feel your air. I hear your breath. Come along! Help yourself again, there is plenty and to spare! —Smaug to Bilbo Baggins . David Wyatt - Smaug But Bilbo was more shrewd than Smaug gave him credit: Bilbo praised the dragon and made sure that he did not reveal his real name, speaking only in riddles . Smaug could not resist the fascination of what Bilbo had said (although he did remind him that flattery would not save his life) and needed to understand it, so they continued to talk; he was also intrigued to smell something new being puzzled by the never-before-encountered "hobbit-smell". Bilbo grew more and more uncomfortable in the presence of Smaug, but plucking up courage he revealed that he had not come for the treasure alone: Smaug laughed and mocked the notion that anyone could steal from him and get away with it.

Bilbo eventually revealed the true purpose of his mission to Smaug, that of "revenge" - Smaug burst into a devastating laughter, shaking Bilbo to the floor, mocking the suggestion that anyone could achieve revenge, boasting about his achievements and strengths. Bilbo then suggested that dragon's were softer underneath, particularly in the chest: in response, and in an act of sheer vanity, Smaug rolled over and claimed that Bilbo's information was false and outdated. But Bilbo saw something crucial, thinking: Old fool! Why there is a large patch in the hollow of his left breast as bare as a snail out of its shell! —Bilbo, to himself. Bilbo had obtained the information that he had needed. He fled up the passage, leaving behind a dragon infuriated by the notion of "revenge", having the hair on the back of his head and heels singed off. When Bilbo returned to the door-step he regaled the dwarves with the story of his conversation with the dragon whilst the thrush was listening. Smaug left his lair once more and smashed the mountainside with strikes of his tail, trapping Thorin and Company inside the secret passage.

[10] [ edit ] Death and aftermath Realizing that the Lake-men of Esgaroth must have helped the intruders - reinforced by Bilbo calling himself the "Barrel-rider," Smaug resolved to attack and destroy the town as a punitive measure. He approached it in a rage. The waters around it turned red but Smaug dared not get too close as the water would quench his fire; as the Lake-men had cut the bridges, Smaug flew above attacking and setting the town aflame, destroying the Great House with a swipe of his tail. The dragon's scales were impervious to the arrows of the defenders, but the thrush had flown to the town and informed Bard - a descendent of Girion , Lord of Dale - of the bare spot in Smaug's armour. He was then able to kill Smaug by firing the Black Arrow directly into the vulnerable spot of his left breast. As Smaug fell he crashed into and destroyed Esgaroth. [3] After Smaug's death, Thorin and Company claimed the treasure as theirs by birthright.

This created a conflict with Bard and the Elvenking of Mirkwood , who each wanted a portion of the treasure as reimbursement for huge damage that Smaug had inflicted upon them. Thorin refused to share the treasure and had every intention of going to war with the Elves of Mirkwood and men of Esgaroth to defend his right to the treasure. However the sudden attack by the armies of Bolg brought the forces of the free peoples of Middle-earth together in the Battle of Five Armies . [11] [12] [13] After the Battle, Bilbo's fourteenth-share of the hoard was given over to Bard who sent some to Lake-town to aid its rebuilding. [14] Following the death of Smaug a new Lake-town was built further north; Smaug's bones could be seen from the shore but the people were always fearful of it and no one dared go in the water to retrieve the gems or gold. [3] [ edit ] Personality I kill where I wish and none dare resist. I laid low the warriors of old and their like is not in the world today. Then I was but young and tender.

Now I am old and strong, strong strong, Thief in the Shadows! —Smaug to Bilbo. Like all dragons, Smaug - described by Thorin as "a most specially greedy, strong and wicked worm" [6] - loves to hoard gold with a meticulous knowledge of his own collection as evidenced by his immediate spotting of the missing cup. [5] Whilst being quick to anger in defence of his own wealth, he also exhibits a fierce intellect (as well as a curious fascination) in guessing/deciphering Bilbo's cryptic origins, a pride and vanity in his own armour, an arrogance in his own invulnerability (laughing at the suggestion that the dwarves would be able to have their revenge), and an ability to question Bilbo's loyalty to the dwarves. [5] John Howe - Smaug Destroys Lake-town Fafnir in the late Norse versions of the Sigurd-story is better; and Smaug and his conversation obviously is in debt there. — J.R.R. Tolkien [15] In Letter 122 , Tolkien noted his lack of enthusiasm for the dragon in Beowulf .

Instead he stated his preference for the dragon-like creature Fafnir from the late Norse versions of the Sigurd-story . Indeed Tolkien wrote that Smaug's character owed much to Fafnir. [15] [ edit ] Etymology Deriving from the same Old English and Germanic roots as smial and Smeagol , [16] the name Smaug is "the past tense of the primitive Germanic verb Smugan , to squeeze through a hole". [17] It has been suggested that Tolkien likely thought of Old English smeag, a word used to describe a " worm ". [16] [ edit ] Other names and titles In drafts of the Appendices , Tolkien wrote that Trāgu was the name of Smaug in the language of Dale , "Dalish".

[18] In the conversation between Smaug and Bilbo, Bilbo calls him "Smaug the Tremendous", "Smaug the Chiefest and Greatest of Calamities", "Smaug the Mighty", "Smaug the Unassessably Wealthy", "Lord Smaug the Impenetrable" and "Your Magnificence", [5] and later Bilbo refers to him as "Smaug the Terrible" and Balin calls him "Old Worm". [10] When the dwarves learn of Smaug's demise they grab their harps and sing, referring to Smaug as the "Worm of Dread". [11] Appendix A uses the popular name "Smaug the Golden", [1] whilst in " The Quest of Erebor " he is simply referred to as "The Dragon". [ edit ] Other versions of the Legendarium In a very early manuscript of The Hobbit Smaug was known as Pryftan. Indeed John D. Rateliff refers to this manuscript as The Pryftan Fragment.

[19] Pryftan is a simple Welsh compound that literally means "Worm of Fire." [20] [ edit ] Portrayal in adaptations 1977: The Hobbit (1977 film) : Smaug was voiced by American actor Richard Boone . In this version, Smaug is broadly similar in size and colour but his shape is less elongated due to being more weighty. Smaug's face is rounder, possessing more mammalian traits - resembling a mix between a cat and a bat - having bat-like ears and fur around the face and down the back. Also, his armour is never mentioned to be strengthened by lying on the treasure, but more resembles an extra padding of skin/scales, minus the bare patch. 2012: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey : Smaug is a CGI -motion capture creature produced by Weta Digital , voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch . [21] He is shown with no front legs but walking on the wrists of his wings. Smaug's sack of Dale and Erebor is shown briefly during the prologue.

The film ends with a glimpse of the Dragon 's eye as he wakes, though he is buried under the treasure. 2013: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug : Smaug makes his full appearance in the second part. In his conversation with Bilbo , he shows an awareness of the One Ring and its master , as well as the nearby presence of Thorin and Company . It is also observed by Bilbo that the Lake-men 's legend of Girion having loosened and removed a scale from the Dragon's breast was in fact true. When the Dwarves enter the mountain, Smaug chases them, finally catching up to them in the forges, where the Dwarves stage a counterattack, tricking Smaug into relighting the forges with his fire. They manage to cover Smaug in hot molten gold, but he sheds it off without difficulty. Smaug leaves them and flies off to Lake-town to seek revenge for what he perceives to be their part in Bilbo and the Dwarves' attack.

2014: The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies : After destroying the majority of Lake-town, Smaug sees Bard attempting to take him on. He taunts the bowman, and, then, while charging him, Bard shoots his Black Arrow into the fire-drake 's vulnerable spot. While in the throes of death, Smaug flies up into the sky, where he takes his last breath and then falls to his watery grave in Long Lake (taking the Master of Lake-town in his boat with him along the way). 1988: Creatures of Middle-earth (1st edition) : In this supplement to the 1st edition of Middle-earth Role Playing , Smaug is put forward as a potential enemy should the gamesmaster wish to include the dragon in his or her story. Another dragon, Utumkodur, is described as Smaug's elder sister. [25] 1994: Creatures of Middle-earth (2nd edition) : In this supplement to the 2nd edition of Middle-earth Role Playing , Smaug is described in some detail and given a brief history before his coming to Erebor.

Smaug survived the destruction of Angband at the end of the First Age and settled at Anvilmount in the Grey Mountains . Here he found and defiled a First Age Adan holy place, destroying tombs and stealing a modest amount of treasure. Smaug was upset by his lack of wealth. Therefore when he heard the tale of the Dwarves of Erebor he knew that the great treasure should be his. Creatures of Middle-earth also describes Smaug as being the son of Ancalagon , being one of a number of siblings including Throkmaw, Ruingurth, and Utumkodur. [26] The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013) - FAQ The content of this page was created directly by users and has not been screened or verified by IMDb staff. Visit our FAQ Help to learn more FAQ How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?

For detailed information about the amounts and types of (a) sex and nudity, (b) violence and gore, (c) profanity, (d) alcohol, drugs, and smoking, and (e) frightening and intense scenes in this movie, consult the IMDb Parents Guide for this movie. The Parents Guide for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey can be found here . What is 'The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug' about? Continuing the quest to reclaim the dwarven kingdom of Erebor from the dragon Smaug (voice of Benedict Cumberbatch ), young hobbit Bilbo Baggins ( Martin Freeman ) and the band of dwarves led by Thorin Oakenshield ( Richard Armitage ) and aided by the elves Tauriel ( Evangeline Lilly ) and Legolas ( Orlando Bloom ) along with Lake-town resident Bard ( Luke Evans ) finally reach the Lonely Mountain and attempt to find the Arkenstone. Unfortunately, Bilbo awakens the sleeping dragon. Is 'The Desolation of Smaug' based on a book? The Desolation of Smaug is the second part of a three-part adaptation of the novel The Hobbit, or There and Back Again by author J.R.R.

Tolkien [1892-1973]. The first film The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) covers the first six chapters of the novel and a few moments from the seventh chapter. The Desolation of Smaug covers the seventh through the 13th chapters. Finally, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014) covers the remaining 14th through 19th chapters. The screenplay was written by New Zealand screenwriters Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyes, and Peter Jackson (who also directed), along with Mexican screenwriter Guillermo del Toro. Do any of the characters from 'Lord of the Rings' return in 'The Desolation of Smaug'? Whereas in An Unexpected Journey there were many reprised appearances by actors in their same roles from Peter Jackson's first Lord of the Rings films, there are far fewer of these appearances in this film. Only Gandalf ( Ian McKellen ) and Legolas return with major roles. Galadriel ( Cate Blanchett ) also makes a brief, one line appearance through recycled footage from the previous film.

Sauron makes a brief appearance in the movie but is played by Benedict Cumberbatch, as opposed to Sala Baker who played him in the original films. Also Gimli is mentioned and a picture of him is shown but he is not portrayed on screen by an actor. Why is the film titled "The Desolation of Smaug" ? The title refers to where the dragon Smaug lives and the waste around his home. When Smaug invaded the region around Erebor, he burned the city of Dale, which lay near the entrance to the dwarves' kingdom under Erebor and also burned much of the area surrounding it. There's a moment in the film when the party arrives near the ruins of Dale, and Balin says that the surrounding area used to be covered with lush forests. What races and creatures appear in this film? Many different Dwarves, Elves, Wizards, Men, Orcs, and Spiders appear in the movie and have speaking roles. Bilbo is the only Hobbit to speak and only one other is seen briefly in the Prancing Pony at the beginning of the film. Smaug is the only dragon to appear and speak.

Beorn ( Mikael Persbrandt ), a skin-changer who takes the form of a bear, also appears. Some forest animals, domestic dogs, and Wargs are also seen. Are Smaug and The Necromancer the same entity? Though both are antagonists in the story and were motion-captured and voiced by the same actor, they are separate entities in Tokien's book and are working independently of each other in the films as well. The Necromancer is Sauron in his spiritual form with limited power that cannot yet assume physical form but is gathering strength preparing for his return at Dol Guldur. Smaug is a Dragon, a Firedrake from the north that has conquered Erebor, the Dwarven kingdom under the mountain. They are not the same being. Who is Tauriel? She's not in the novel. Tauriel is the young, approximately 600 year-old, captain of the Wood-elf guards who patrol the borders of the Woodland Realm in Mirkwood. She is a Silvan Elf of Mirkwood Forest whose name means 'daughter of the forest' (directly translated Forest-daughter) or 'maiden of the wood' in the Sindarin tongue.

Leading up to the release of the film, Jackson assured Tolkien fans that Tauriel would not enter into a romantic relationship with Legolas. According to Phillipa Boyens, the screenwriter for Peter Jackson, Tauriel was her creation and has nothing to do with Tolkien's work. In the film it is revealed that both she and Legolas have feelings for each other, though it is never overtly stated by either character just how deep those feelings go. Legolas' father Thrandull ( Lee Pace ) also warns that he would never allow them to be together. However, Tauriel also develops feelings for the young dwarf Kili ( Aidan Turner ). Tauriel was first thought by many fans to be a gender-switched version of the Keeper of the Keys who looked after the imprisoned Dwarves in Thranduil's dungeons, but he proved to be a different character. Why does Thorin tell Fili that one day he will be king? Fili ( Dean O'Gorman ) and his younger brother Kili are Thorin's nephews (his sister's sons). Since Thorin has no children, this makes Fili his legitimate heir in the line of succession.

Why are Gandalf and the White Council surprised by the return of Sauron in 'The Lord of the Rings' if they already find out about it in 'The Hobbit'? During the events of the Hobbit trilogy, the White Council realizes Sauron's spirit has survived the defeat by the Last Alliance, when Isildur took the Ring. By the time the events of the Fellowship of the Ring unfold, they have already battled and temporarily vanquished, but not destroyed, Sauron, which will be portrayed in the last chapter of the Hobbit trilogy. What takes Gandalf and the others by surprise is the return of the One Ring, which was thought to be lost, and the extent of Sauron's recovered power. What's wrong with Thranduil's face? Thranduil's sudden scars reflect a little-emphasized facet of J.R.R. Tolkien's lore: elves' "Fï¿½a" (a metaphysical concept analogous translatable as "soul") occasionally influences the "Hrï¿½a" (the fleshly, physical body), particularly under moments of extreme stress. This can manifest as extreme physical changes that reflect the mind's state, in this case deep war scars.

What's up with Bolg's appearance? Bolg the Orc was originally supposed to be played by an actor with costume and make-up. The filmmakers later decided to have him portrayed as a CGI character, just like they did with Azog. That's why there are two widely different portrayals of Bolg circulating on the web, one of which is the one ultimately used in the movie. Why do the Dwarves give up the search for the key hole so easily? The keyhole is supposed to be magic - something you can find only at one precise moment, and if you miss that, no amount of waiting and searching would help. It's also notable that Durin's Day was a rare event, when the sun and moon shared the sky on the last day of Autumn. Therefore, Durin's Day would not happen every year; there could be many years between occurrences. What was the date on Durin's Day? Durin's Day falls on the dwarves' New Year, which occurs on the first day of the last moon of autumn. However, Durin's Day happens only in years when this moon and the sun appear in the sky together.

The lunar calendar in Bard's home shows Durin's Day falling on the date of 30 Halimath (September); although the phase of the moon shown on it does not match the one that Bilbo observes on Durin's Day. Using the crescent moons seen at Midsummer's Eve in An Unexpected Journey and The Desolation of Smaug, we can estimate that the date for Durin's Day is on or near October 27 (the 27th day of Winterfilth) in Shire Reckoning. On our Gregorian calendar that should convert to October 15. I thought the "last light of Durin's Day" was supposed to be the sunset. Why is the moonlight in the film? It is in the book, but the movie scriptwriter decided to add the "plot twist" of making it the light of the moon. The main reason Tolkien did not write this in the book is because it is an error. The Moon has no light of its own but shines only by reflected sunlight, which is why it shows phases (the lit half always faces the Sun).

Hence a full moon at sunset can only be a rising moon, and the Moon would be in the eastern sky (on the other side of the mountain) and could not illuminate the keyhole. In addition, there is a discontinuity in The Battle of the Five Armies. When Bilbo enters the Mountain in The Desolation of Smaug, the moon is just past new. But when the dragon attacks Lake-town the moon has inexplicably become full (and is in the north!). How does the movie end? While Tauriel tends to Kili's wound with her elven magic and Legolas pursues Bolg on horseback, Bilbo and the dwarves battle the awakened Smaug. Thorin comes up with a plan to smother Smaug by tricking him into using his fiery breath to rekindle the forge and melt the gold. The plan doesn't work, however, and angered by the deception, Smaug flies off vowing revenge and death. Helplessly, Bilbo watches in horror as Smaug heads toward Laketown and says to himself, 'What have we done?' Why didn't Peter Jackson want to direct this movie initially?

Peter Jackson previously signed on as an executive producer (the same role that, comparatively, George Lucas served on Episodes 5 and 6 of Star Wars); The main reasoning appeared to be timetable conflicts with other directing commitments Jackson already had or has made (The Lovely Bones, Tintin). The fact that Jackson was in a financial conflict with New Line Cinema at the time may have also played a role. There may also be the matter that the previous Lord of the Rings movies are hugely popular movies. This will raise the expectations for The Hobbit considerably, while the novel is in many regards (e.g. story structure) quite similar to the Ring-trilogy, which has also become much more popular than the Hobbit over the years. With Peter Jackson at the helm, expectations will likely rise to unrealistic proportions. This could lead to potential mass disappointment with the fan base, arguably comparable to when George Lucas decided to create his prequel trilogy to the original Star Wars trilogy himself, and when Steven Spielberg created a fourth Indiana Jones movie after nearly twenty years. Jackson himself also experienced first-hand how high expectations can get when he is listed as director, having met with some harsh criticism for his post-LotR movies (King Kong, The Lovely Bones).

However, since del Toro left the project and the financial conflict with New Line Cinema was settled, Peter Jackson expressed willingness to step in as director. Moreover, he was "available" due to the delays in production. He has directed all three films (it is now a confirmed Trilogy) with shooting started in February 2011. Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, who all wrote the previous Rings Trilogy, have written the screenplay for The Hobbit Parts 1, 2 and 3. The movie has been split into three parts with added expanded content from the book (i.e. drawing story elements from the Appendices, see below), it is clear that the maker's intentions for this film go beyond a mere introductory prequel. We can expect The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey on December 14, 2012 followed by The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug December 13, 2013 and The Hobbit: There and Back Again on December 17th, 2014.

The choice to extend the single relatively small, 297 (paperback) book was allegedly Peter Jackson's and he claims it is due to the sheer amount of content in the expanded universe, so that the story can be told in its entirety, as well as fan service, though there have been valid claims that the huge financial investment and potential profits were a factor in the final choice. This, of course, is only speculation. The complete explanation for why Jackson did not direct these films in provided at the beginning of Disk 7 Special Features of the directors cut. They discuss it with the original director and with Jackson. They began working on the Hobbit before Warner Brothers and MGM had worked out their shared ownership rights to this film. This dragged on for months. Finally, when a solution seemed distant del Toro had a chance to direct another film and he took it. This left The Hobbit with no director. Shortly, the issue between studios was worked out and the casting director went to Jackson and told him she couldn't begin casting the film without a director. That's why Jackson stepped into the role...5 months before the cameras started rolling. He realized that probably no one else could seamlessly step into the role and make it work. The entire creative team agreed.

Does Peter Jackson have a cameo? Yes. Jackson can be seen in the opening shot of the film, walking from the left of the screen to the right. He briefly glances towards the camera while taking a bite out of a carrot. The shot of him is meant to be a recreation of his cameo in The Fellowship of the Ring. Jackson had filmed a second cameo as a spy in Lake-town but including it was strongly vetoed by his co-producer, Philippa Boyens, who thought it diminished Jackson's standing as director and producer. The full story of Jackson's second appearance can be see in the bonus features of the extended edition of the movie on blu-ray and DVD.

Question: What is the name of the dragon which guards the treasure in the novel ‘The Hobbit’?
Answer: Smaug